Theme: None
Words: 70 (missing J,Q,X)
Blocks: 33
I
do believe this is Robyn's first LA Times Saturday, and upon review, I
see her first Sunday was this year, too, and now there's only
Tuesday/Thursday left for the cycle. Slow start for me, finally got
some answers filled at the halfway Across point, and then had a good run
in the Downs. The NW however, refused to fill in, and I was tempted to
cheat on 6d., but then 5d. came to me, and I was able to close out -
and rather quickly, I noticed. A friendly grid, no crushing chunky
corners, no "trapped" corners, very little in proper names, and 6
10-letter fills spread over the construction;
23. Sebastian in "The Little Mermaid," e.g. : CRUSTACEAN - I thought he was a lobster, but it turns out he's actually a crab. Live and learn.
44. Be prudent : PLAY IT SAFE
11. One or two may arrive on Valentine's Day : DOZEN ROSES - has Ms. Weintraub been the recipient~?!?
26. It's often labeled "B" : BACK-UP PLAN
ONWAlleD~!
ACROSS:
1. Shoots down : DEBUNKS - learned this word from the endless use of it in the TV show "The X-files" - but I had deCRIEs to start
8. More than just passed : ACED IT - ah. Two words. Got me.
14. "My two cents ... " : AS I SEE IT - there's 12 step literature called "As Bill Sees It"
16. Variation of the Latin square puzzle : SUDOKU - my first consideration, but I thought Sudoku was Oriental, not Latin - but then I went and did some research; Latin Square; Sudoku; the latter mentions the former
8. More than just passed : ACED IT - ah. Two words. Got me.
14. "My two cents ... " : AS I SEE IT - there's 12 step literature called "As Bill Sees It"
16. Variation of the Latin square puzzle : SUDOKU - my first consideration, but I thought Sudoku was Oriental, not Latin - but then I went and did some research; Latin Square; Sudoku; the latter mentions the former
17. Motherboards, etc. : HARDWARE - computers in the physical sense
18. They may be ribbons : PRIZES - MEDALS~? No, AWARDS is better. Bzzzt~!
19. You usually can't see your shadow on it : LID - um, OK. Can't see my shadow on my liP, either. Oh, EYE lid. Duh. Thanks Argyle. So what's a birP call, anyway~?
20. Scornful grin : SNEER
22. Underhanded type : SNEAK
25. High wind? : OBOE
27. They get checked at airports, briefly : ETAs
28. One on the E. Coast? : RTE - cute. Route One runs from Key West FL to Ft. Kent ME. I did not know it uses the George Washington bridge here in NY
31. Mechanic's supply : SPARE PARTS - oops, not sparK pLUGs; let's see - that's 60% 100% correct
34. Does some yard work : MOWS - clecho; 52d. Does some yard work : HOES
35. Shreds comics? : HECKLES - there's a guy who plays cards with us who claims he was once a stand-up comedian (comic). So at the poker table, he tends to treat every one as a heckler - and I could not for the life of me recall this word. harass~?, haggle~? hamper~? Ah-ha~!
36. 561-piece White House, for one : LEGO SET - nailed it. Still have my Lego sets. I like the new architecture series
Where's the extra piece go~?
38. Works on, as comics : INKS - the other kind of comic
39. Shortcuts : TIME SAVERS - that they are. The 21st century term for this is "life hack"
41. Sun Devils' sch. : ASU - hah~! Nailed it. Been doing crosswords for too long, I guess
42. Grammy winner James : ETTA
43. It has a Yakutsk card : RISK - yes, yes it does. Nailed this one, as well. My board game uses elements from Risk
39. Shortcuts : TIME SAVERS - that they are. The 21st century term for this is "life hack"
41. Sun Devils' sch. : ASU - hah~! Nailed it. Been doing crosswords for too long, I guess
42. Grammy winner James : ETTA
43. It has a Yakutsk card : RISK - yes, yes it does. Nailed this one, as well. My board game uses elements from Risk
Top right in green
48. Dodge two-seater : VIPER - my Grand Caravan is a two-seater as well - if I fold the three seats in the back into the floor, that is
50. Yemeni neighbor : SAUDI - not OMANI
51. Grinch victim : WHO
Cindy Lou Who
54. Not coastal : INLAND56. Habitat that comes and goes : TIDE POOL - pondered ICE SHEET
58. No. 2 terminus : ERASER - good clue/answer. No. 2 pencil
59. Like some stag party members? : ANTLERED - good WAG
60. Blush producer : WINERY - ah. The drink, not the make-up
61. Venus, say : GODDESS
1. "George's Marvelous Medicine" author : DAHL - I wondered if this was Curious George, but couldn't remember the author's name anyhow. It's "Rey". This is a different book and author; more here; check out the disclaimer at the end of the article
2. Morales of "La Bamba" : ESAI - just about the only proper name in the puzzle, and a gimme for regular solvers
3. __ call : BIRD
4. Amer. capital : USD - $ $ $ $ $ $
5. Old 34-Down preceder : NEWSREEL - ah. I thought we were looking for the 'invention' prior to the 'movie'
6. Name that means "cool breeze" in Hawaiian : KEANU - argh. I knew this
7. Parts of some stable relationships : SIRES - I caught the "other" definition of "stable" on my second pass
8. Hieroglyphics creature : ASP - made me change my AWARDS
9. Maledictions : CURSES
10. Minneapolis suburb : EDINA - C.C. knew this
12. Furniture giant : IKEA
13. Mastodon feature : TUSK
15. Have trouble balancing : TEETER - I tried WOBBLE
21. Engine concern : RATTLE
23. 60-Across supply : CORKS
24. Grammarian's concerns : CASES
25. Goes on first : OPENS
29. Suggestive dance : TWERK
30. Insurance co. requests : ESTs
31. Second-largest branch of Islam : SHIA
32. Nickel-and-dime : PETTY - like the way UPS runs its local operation. I was cheated out of my personal day for July 3rd, so guess what~? I was "sick" Friday.
33. "Given the circumstances ... " : AS IT IS
34. Fox product : MOVIE - 40 years since Star Wars saved the company from bankruptcy
37. President for 200 days : GARFIELD - had half the perps in place. Second President assassinated. The Wiki
40. Swahili word for "problems" : MATATA - filled via perps
42. Bacon recipient? : EARNER - "bring home the bacon"
3. __ call : BIRD
4. Amer. capital : USD - $ $ $ $ $ $
5. Old 34-Down preceder : NEWSREEL - ah. I thought we were looking for the 'invention' prior to the 'movie'
6. Name that means "cool breeze" in Hawaiian : KEANU - argh. I knew this
7. Parts of some stable relationships : SIRES - I caught the "other" definition of "stable" on my second pass
8. Hieroglyphics creature : ASP - made me change my AWARDS
9. Maledictions : CURSES
10. Minneapolis suburb : EDINA - C.C. knew this
12. Furniture giant : IKEA
13. Mastodon feature : TUSK
15. Have trouble balancing : TEETER - I tried WOBBLE
21. Engine concern : RATTLE
23. 60-Across supply : CORKS
24. Grammarian's concerns : CASES
25. Goes on first : OPENS
29. Suggestive dance : TWERK
30. Insurance co. requests : ESTs
31. Second-largest branch of Islam : SHIA
32. Nickel-and-dime : PETTY - like the way UPS runs its local operation. I was cheated out of my personal day for July 3rd, so guess what~? I was "sick" Friday.
33. "Given the circumstances ... " : AS IT IS
34. Fox product : MOVIE - 40 years since Star Wars saved the company from bankruptcy
37. President for 200 days : GARFIELD - had half the perps in place. Second President assassinated. The Wiki
40. Swahili word for "problems" : MATATA - filled via perps
42. Bacon recipient? : EARNER - "bring home the bacon"
45. Form for a letter? : LEASE - think "let-ter", or one who lets
46. Seeking damages : SUING
47. Heighten : ADD TO - actions by my supervisors at UPS add to my aggravation
48. Hotel upgrade option : VIEW
49. Cross letters : INRI
51. Sported : WORE
53. Auto pioneer : OLDS
55. Hang on a line : DRY
57. Walker, for short : PEDestrian
46. Seeking damages : SUING
47. Heighten : ADD TO - actions by my supervisors at UPS add to my aggravation
48. Hotel upgrade option : VIEW
49. Cross letters : INRI
51. Sported : WORE
53. Auto pioneer : OLDS
55. Hang on a line : DRY
57. Walker, for short : PEDestrian
Splynter
38 comments:
Surprisingly smooth solve for a Saturday. Only completely unknown was MATATA (ESP).
Splynter, I think perhaps the "shadow" clue is referring to eye shadow, as in you can't see eye shadow after you apply it, or so BH tells me.
Cya!
Hi everyone!
Thanks to Robyn and Splynter!
Got this one w/o cheats! Hooray!
Some things not immediate. WAGged and perped were: CRUSTACEAN, DBUNKS, LID (huh?), RISK (never played), DAHL, KEANU, MATATA and EDINA.
Pool pump has conked out. Mucho bucks to fix. No swim today. Drat.
Hope that you are better, Lemonade!
Hope to see you all tomorrow!
Thanks, Bluehen!
FIR! A few wrong turns -- HERMIT CRAB > CRUSTACEAN, WETLANDS > TIDE POOL, MARES > SIRES.
The prescience of the Blog: my poem yesterday mentioned a mosquito TUSK, today a mastodon TUSK!
I never saw the movie, but this is what Google suggests for MATATA.
{C.}
As she put her make-up on, applied the BLUSH and SHADOW,
Her mirror lost connection -- WiFi is what it had no!
Despite her showing of past meanness
She sought help of small sis, VENUS.
Thus she went out with eye-LIDS that had written on them "Bad Mo'"
Does the term TIDEPOOL sound right to everyone else? I swear I've only heard them described as "tidal pools". I know I shouldn't question my betters, i.e. Robyn and Rich, and that Wikipedia uses both terms interchangeably, but to me TIDEPOOL sounds like spilled laundry detergent.
Oh well, Cya!
Good morning!
Zippy little Saturday offering. Tried LANAI, the total extent of my knowledge of Hawaiian, before KEANU upstaged it. Misunderstood the clue, and tried NEWSCORP for NEWS REEL. Who HOES their yard??? Still, the train pulled into the station well ahead of schedule. Easier than yesterday methinks. Thanx, Robyn and Splynter.
Good morning. Thank you Robyn and Splynter. ACED IT !
Took almost twice the time allowed in the Minnesota Crossword Tournament, but I "got 'er done" unaided. TADA !
Had SPED BY before ACED IT.
AS IT IS and AS I SEE IT seem to be very crossword friendly.
Did you want HARRISON ? I did, but knew that LEGO SET was correct. HARRISON didn't make it nearly that long.
GARFIELD - One of 8 "Ohio" presidents, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The real number is 6, 7 or 8, depending on how you reason. Or where you are from...
Garfield was one of two from Ohio to be assassinated. Who was the other ? Both have eight letter surnames.
Did you enjoy the PBS series, "The Presidents" as much as I did ?
MATATA - yeah, it wall perps.
Bacon producer was a cute clue for EARNER, AS I SEE IT.
Agreed. This was a zippy Saturday puzzle. Thank you, Robyn!
My first footholds began in the center and blossomed outwardly from there. Having seen both Ariel and The Lion King numerous times, CRUSTACEAN and MATATA arrived early. That helped develop the neighborhood. OBOE didn't fool me.
CSO to me at ASU!
The lack of obscure authors and other proper names greatly helped today. DAHL is well known in children's lit. HOES and MOWS exchanged places once TWERK inserted itself.
Thanks, SPLYNTER, for explaining RISK as Yakutsk card meant nothing to me.
Have yourselves a fabulous day, everyone!
Good morning all!
What a fun Saturday puzzle and I got through it fairly quickly without getting too beat up ;)
Thanks Robyn and thanks Splynter for your write up- I always look forward to Saturday to read your work on the blog.
I knew KEANU as I remember reading about the meaning of his name years ago. Some say he's not that great of an actor but I enjoy his work and find him endearing. His personal life has been heartbreaking
Like Lucina, I've seen those Disney films many times so CRUSTACEAN and MATATA were gotten easily.
GARFIELD was a good WAG as I can never remember the president who had such a short term.
That White House LEGOSET is very cool but I probably wouldn't have the patience to construct it.
I did stumble a bit- I had to look up DAHL which ended up being a big Doh! moment as I love his work but had never heard of this book.
LID was a perp and made no sense until the blog- thanks Splynter, Argyle and BlueHen for clearing that up!
I tried LAST Call for BIRD call
I had Place for PRIZE thinking "1st, 2nd, 3rd place" . Another Doh! moment as this made me question ACEDIT but knew ASP, IKEA and TUSK were correct. Finally fixed it with DOZENROSES.
My SPAREPARTS were Tires- oops
Second time this week for TWERK- ugh. It makes me cringe, lol
The clues for ANTLERED, SIRES, EARNER and LEASE were quite clever!
Absolutely gorgeous morning here but ruined by the Rumpke dump odor. It is dissipating, so hoping to be outside as much as possible today.
Hope everyone has a wonderful day!
Good Morning:
Started out slowly but then the pace picked up and, bit by bit, everything filled in nicely. Had hoes before mows and I, too, flirted with tires before parts. Crustacean was a gimme but Matata needed perps. Thought of Misty at Sudoku and Lucina at ASU. I finished in normal Saturday time, even though it seemed to take longer.
Thanks, Robyn, for a satisfying solve and thanks, Splynter, for the grand tour.
Have a great day.
Hi Y'all! Thanks for the mind bender, Robyn! Thanks, Splynter!
I started out knowing DEBUNKED but doubting it, so googled DAHL to see if he wrote that. Thought I was off to the races then had a lot of white in the top half. Bottom was easier. Worked back up.
NE was the last to fill despite have SUDOKU, IKEA, TUSK & SNEAK. I'm old, so "passed" meant "died" to me and who wants to have ACED that? Couldn't think of a 3-letter hieroglyph because I'd just been reading about American Indian glyphs where rattlesnake would have been more apt than ASP but wouldn't fit. I had ROSES but "one or two" DOZEN never ever arrived at my house. He got me a ROSE bush once. Sorta DIY dozen. Lasted longer than cut flowers.
Didn't understand LID until I came here. Good clue. I finally got it and had BIRD call, but the word BIRD descending was unrecognizable. Duh! It finally alit on a branch of my mind. Duh!
Sebastian was a crab? You gotta be kidding. CRUSTACEAN was a long time coming to mind.
Since I have no one at my house to argue with, I realized that cws satisfy that cantankerous need, especially on Saturday.
My a/c has been working better since we had the "torrential rains". Maybe it washed out a bunch of maple seeds, leaves, dirt, grass clippings, etc., as was suggested. Or maybe it's just been slightly cooler weather.
Good day to all!
Yay! A Saturday puzzle I could get through without help. So many clever/devious clues. Favorites were "Form for a letter?" for LEASE and "No.2 terminus" for ERASER. Thanks for the tour, Splynter. I found reading about GARFIELD's life and career quite interesting.
Enjoy the day!
Thanks, Robyn, for a nice workout this morning. Got it done, but took longer than usual. Loved the clue for ANTLERED.
Thanks, Splynter, for the great write-up.
Have an enjoyable weekend all!
-Google didn't recognize me so I fooled around and lost my earlier post . Leaving the site and reconnecting, I was blue again. I must use WORD so my blog is saved. I went grocery shopping and am trying anew.
-The eastern half of this puzzle was easy for a Saturday. In the SW, earner, viper, eraser, and winery all eluded me for a while. Inland and view saved the day.
HAKUNA MATATA from Lion King was a gimme. I also enjoyed watching The Little Mermaid.
"Hakuna Matata
Ain't no passing craze
It means no worries
For the rest of your days
It's our problem-free
Philosophy
Hakuna Matata."
-I knew Yakutsk card from playing RISK, which I find extremely boring. I play along to be sociable. The game goes on and on and on. I would rather read about real life issues between countries.
-I prefer TIDE pool. TIDAL pool is an acceptable alternative, but has too many letters.
-I was surprised to learn that SUDOKU is based on the ancient Latin Square. Thanks, Splynter, for the research. I thought the Japanese invented it, rather than adapting it and popularizing it.
-Our subs worked from our regular weekly lesson plans. If mine were especially complicated or needed materials to be brought from home, I sent in PLAN B by email if I was unexpectedly absent. The children basically learned what we would have taught, no loss of instructional time. Once I called in to cancel my after school science club. The sub complained she didn’t know what to do with the science period during the school day because science was cancelled. The other teachers told her to follow my plan book. I wondered what garbled message she had received. Reminded me of the telephone game, Pass It On.
Some tricky cluing. Thanks Robyn. Thanks Splynter.
Minor peeves that pop into my feeble brain from time-to-time:
` BLT 'sam-wich.'
~ Modifying 'unique' as in 'that's a very unique concept.'
~ Not pronouncing the soft 'G' in strength, pronouncing it like strenth.
Musings
-Such cleverness, but like Splynter, the NW held out. I guess DON HO does not mean fresh breeze. DUH!
-TAUS for cross letters needed an ERASER after I got, uh, ERASER
-I always have a PLAN B when a teacher’s sub plans for me are way too little
-50 current Urban Legends DEBUNKED
-I hope daily exercise and SUDOKU keep my brain from tanking. I know ESAI but where are my keys?
-TIME (and money) SAVER. Put fresh-brewed coffee in the fridge overnight: Voila – ICED COFFEE
-Do you remember the movie where his call sign was VIPER?
-Look carefully to find DAHL’s name showing work he did for his good friend Ian Fleming
-CASE – use WHOM if you can replace it with HER, WHO if you’d use SHE
-Sans vulgarity TWERK would not be called a dance nor would much rap be labeled music
-I was shocked to learn that this was Lori PETTY from A League Of Their Own in Orange Is The New Black
-An instructor at Sea World in what is called The TIDE POOL attraction
Got the solve but the NW fell last, thought I was going to fail there as I did yesterday. Agree that this was easier than yesterday.
MCKINLEY would be the other Ohion assassinated.
Ah, Yakutsk! Wonderful place for that Siberian exile you've been wanting for those neighbors!
Coldest city on earth ... winter temps can go to -60 (Fahrenheit or centigrade doesn't matter at that level) ... cannot imagine how it wound up in Clue.
Well, after doing so well on the Friday puzzle, this Saturday was a bear for me. I did get the top northeast corner early, thanks partly to SUDOKU (thanks for remembering, Irish Miss), and a bit of the bottom as well. But then I had to start cheating. But with that bit of help, the rest slowly filled in with lots of clever and fun clues--so, many thanks, Robyn. My favorite misdirection involved those stag party members--ANTLERED. Laughed out loud when that finally filled in. I also liked OBOE for "High wind," and I actually got that one. Couldn't believe we had TWERK again. Anyway, great Saturday fun, and helpful expo, Splynter--many thanks.
Have a great weekend, everybody!
I aint buyin' the implication that matata is fair to us sufferers. Justified by we all know the Lion King characters. Really?
By the way, what does perp mean. I guess crosses, but why?
It is because either Down or Across, it's the words perpendicular to the target word that can help us.
Farmer's ad for a "Stag Party". Very funny. Link
one of the few Saturday...TADAS.
Do you get a TADA if you try to cheat but it doesn't help. I wiki's the cast of mermaid trying to find a fill and quickly gave up. I have no idea of the movie other than it was animated, Crustacean finally came when winery begat corks !
I played Risk as a kid as my family and friends played board games when it was to warm to skate and too cold for anything else. I'll always remember Yukutsk as everyone pronounced it differently and it was good strategically as a backdoor into America (sorta like today...). But I remember dice and the board and little plastic armies with a bigger piece being 10 armies but I'll be damned if I remember any cards. Or maybe I am confusing Risk with a much more devious game of alliances and treachery I played in college that could ruin a friendship in a day. Taught me all I needed to know to succeed in business. Cant remember the name though. help?
and for my fellow SoCalian (?). Perp is short for perpendicular although "vert" would be a better descriptor...and "something something tuta matata became fairly common usage in pop culture. Saturday puzzles are supposed to have difficult clues. I'm just happy this one had fewer proper nouns than usual.
I thought HECKLE (+ JECKLE) referred to the comic book crows. A Boston sports talk WAG once referred to two Patriot coaches as H&J. Their names were similar.
Yes. The Pats were once dreadful.
I agree that Splynter does a great write-up. Where's the BEEF?(LEG).
After yesterday this was a smooth solve. I got 3/4ths and then had to do some driving. VIEW instead of WIFI gave me WINERY and CORK.
Speaking of Pat's, RTE I runs right by Gillette Stadium.
Gotta run,
Later, WC
PS. Another C from Owen that cracked me up
Greetings all!
This is the third Saturday in a row where I have completed the whole puzzle in well below my average time using only a few red letters - no Google and no running the alphabet. Not sure if the puzzles are a little simpler or I've just been on the same wave length as the constructors. It certainly not because I am all of the sudden more intelligent than I was a month ago! Next week I will try it in Master mode and see what happens. I enjoyed the puzzle immensely - especially the punnies! Thanks to Splyter for the reveal - informative as always.
@BlueHen - I grew up playing on TIDE POOLS and only heard of TIDAL POOLS in crosswords. Perhaps it is regional?
Thanks YR for posting the lyrics of Hakuna Matata! It's a problem free philosophy! And I always thought Sebastian was a lobster...he doesn't walk sideways!
VENUS has so many possibilities!
--1959 Frankie Avalon and Dick Clark
--1968 Shocking Blue
--1986 my idols, Bananarama
Finally, here's my Tom PETTY song of the day.
@Owen - I saw on FB where you had fallen the other day and am hoping you are doing OK. You are in my thoughts!
Happy Saturday!!
t.
one more thing...
@LongBeachLee - first off, hello and welcome! Glad to see someone else from the LBC represent! One of the great thing about crosswords is that there are generally clues for all generations of solvers. IMO, there should always be "gimmes" for someone of any age - for instance, my 24 year old friend would know TWERK, I (42) know Lion King and Little Mermaid, the 60+ group will likely know ETTA, etc...Personally, I have introduced many young classmates to the world of crosswords by asking them questions that they absolutely will know the answer to - like asking a frat guy to answer something about a Greek letter (they will always sing a song for you). Crosswords are intimidating, most people don't know where to start and give up way too easily. But if they see even one clue they know the answer to, it makes it easier to keep going, keep trying, and keep learning.
Hope you keep visiting!
t.
Hi All!
Argg! Before even looking at a clue I had a soaked (from sprinklers?) paper. I spread the paper out on the garage floor to (maybe?) dry. Impatient, I went to the corner store to get a dry copy. Got home and discovered it was the early edition Sunday's paper! Crap. So, I go out again to 3 different stores; finally the guy at the farthest c-store said, in his APU-ish accent, "They don't print Saturday for sale, only Sunday." I explained my plight and he offered empathy and to sell me cigars [we see each other weekly :-)]. By the time I finished the journey, my home-delivered puzzle (not @36a) was dry. I lit a newly-purchased cigar and got down to the puzzle.
Misty - I feel you. I don't know if it was earlier frustration or just couldn't operate on Robyn's wavelength today. On my Hz, I saw 8a's "More than just passed" and went right to the Dead Parrot Sketch; deader?, Ancient... 11d filled as love letter. I danced the Tango and crossed it with taro [sic] cards for Yakutsk [haven't played RISK in 29 years]. I moved onto the south and did well (though I upgraded to King b/f a VIEW). I had to lookup 1&2d to finally DEBUNK my train-of-though "kills immediately as an idea." A glance at Splynter's grid finally untangled the two-Tango'n' and things came up ROSES.
Thanks Robyn for an above-my-pay-grade grid but I had fun. TEETER is cute, as is HECKLES' c/a (esp w/ clecho INKS). Clue for RTE was brilliant! However, CRUSTAtion[sic b/f dictionary] is devious. I knew Sebastian was a CRAB and comic-relief but there were too many blocks(?). Les Possons would fit with one less 'S.' :-)
Thanks Splynter for 'splainin' LEASE; I got it but didn't 'get' it. Great expo too.
{C} - BTW OKL, your use of TUSK yesterday make easy INKS @13d today; giving me SUDOKU and IKEA, ASP. I was still stuck with A--LIT @6a but at least I knew 'deader' was wrong :-)
Y'all have a great Sat; Girls & I will - we just set the dough to rise for Pizza!
Cheers, -T
I agree Tawnya. It's hard to get past the cruciverba-phobia but Monday and Tuesday are good starts. I love to ask a non-xwer pop culture questions re. My xword and
Splynter, MY BAD. I just went back and spotted VENUS.
Garfield is one of the six out of seven presidents that were also generals. (Post civil war) GRANTed Johnson and Arthur were a stretch
Also, Splynter, email me and I'll send you my non-religious version of Lord's Prayer
WC
My goodness, AnonT--what a tough morning you had. Glad you finally got to do a dry puzzle!
AnonT:
I'm sorry your day was less than fabulous but I admire your determination! As Misty said, good that you finally got a dry puzzle. It's frustrating to be unable to start one's routine. No joke.
It sounds like dinner will be fabulous, though.
This past week Alan and I spent a delightful four days in my old home town where I lived from age 3 until age 14. It was my favorite home town. It is where I hung out with my now very ill best friend.The population is under 600 and the county population is 6100. There is only one traffic light in the whole county. Talk about being a small town girl. My youngest sister moved back there some years ago. We spent a very enjoyable time with her this past week. We love the woods and mountains there. We stayed in a lovingly restored Victorian home which is now a bed and breakfast run by a friend of my sisters's. The owner is the third generation in the 100 year old home. We enjoyed reminiscing about the old days with her..
Longbeachlee, welcome. Take heart. MATATA and crustacean may not be in you wheel house, but we all have different wheelhouses and blind spots. Some days, fill will be in your wheel house and not so much in my wheelhouse. Some subjects bring cheer to some of us and groans to others. Sports, foreign languages, pop culture, different music styles, science, math, authors, something for all types. Keep solving, your forte will appear.
Splynter, I worked for big brown for 30 yrs. I feel your pain.
LongBeachLee - I think what everyone's sayin' is show yourself a bit more... I knew I've seen your Avitar 'round these parts and I was right; a quick Google shows you've pop'd in infrequently for at least a year. Perhaps Sat is the only day you get to play.
Misty & Lucina - don't cry for me (Argentina :-)). My day was quite good outside of the puzzle peril. We built 5 pizzas and one 'flat-bread w/ olive oil, pepper, and garden basil. We watched a movie of their choice... I do wish the Girls told me I was in for a 3hr sit-down with The Martian. Good Movie but looooong; I ran out of MST3K comentary after the 100-minute mark :-).
Cheers, -T
Er, not avitar, handle LBL...
Tawnya - I forgot to thank you for the good tunes. Thanks. -T
Epilogue:
After finishing reading today's wrinkly was-wet paper, I turned to the Sunday Early Edition I accidentally purchased. Joke's on me...
1) It doesn't tell the future
2) It's the exact Sat paper + Homes section, Sunday Comics, and all the ads; The articles / layout is the same
3) It has?!? the Saturday puzzle*
Cheers, -T
*ACED IT :-)
A real monster for me - nothing here to compensate for my bad showing on Friday. This took too long and too many cheats for me to be able to appreciate Robyn Weintraub's obvious brilliance.
It caused a couple of meditations. The one that stays with me is inspired by 26D, BACKUP PLAN B. Splynter's well chosen cartoon is how I always feel about the role of "Plan B" in my field. As a stage director & professor I always cautioned my students to beware of the usual plan A/plan B thinking. In our world, it's impossible to prepare a "plan A" in advance. For us, plan A is what happens in the moment, when a director and designers strike sparks off one another, or in rehearsal when the actors are inspired. I encouraged my kids to prepare thoroughly but to always look at their prep work as the best "plan B" they can imagine. Plan A is elusive and happens only, say, half the time--and always, always overriding a detailed and thoughtful plan B.
A day late. Commenting on the easiest Saturday puzzle in awhile though don't get 19 across LID. Am surpised those complaining about being unfamiliar with the Lion King would know what a TWERK was....lol
Can somebody please explain LID? I read the other posts and none seem satisfying.
Did not know the children's movie references: Sebastian the CRUSTACEAN, MATATA. Vaguely remember ESAI and EDINA from crosswords. WHO also unknown.
KEANU was a learning moment.
I am a LEGO SET purist. We were living in the original land of LEGO when the original set came out.
The whole point of LEGO was to provide simple blocks and sheets and let kids use their imagination. Wheels and wheel blocks were the only "special" blocks and still allowed imagination. I do not like the idea of these "LEGO SETs" that are really just kits. Anyone else?
Anyway... Good puzzle!
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